246 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



rapid succession by smiths behind them. There were 

 pots being painted, straw plates being plaited, dolls of 

 mud and honey being shaped and mounted 

 on sticks. In a separate street old clothes 

 and meat are sold — disgusting objects in 

 fitting juxtaposition. 



A medicine-man crouched before one of 

 the stalls, his clothes almost concealed by 

 the mass of amulets that hung over his 

 person, and on his head was a leopard skin 

 with the claws dangling against his ears. 

 He " lived for fear " when we first asked 

 leave to photograph him, but, luckily, he 

 thought better of it. 

 During our stay General Wilkinson arrived at 

 Maifoni on a tour of military inspection. We had 

 already met him for a few minutes at Mongonu, and 

 he was kind enough to invite us to witness the cere- 

 monial visit the Shehu was to pay him at the fort. 

 The message did not reach us till rather late, so we 

 had not full opportunities of taking photographs, and 

 those printed are from some taken on that occasion, 

 and generously given to me by the Intelligence 

 Officer of Northern Nigeria, Captain Howell. 



The Shehu was in the centre of a long line of 

 horsemen, the prevailing tints of their robes being 

 carmine and white. Some of the horses were capar- 

 isoned with long quilted cloths that reached to the 

 fetlock, and were so thick as to be proof against 

 arrows, while others were further protected by brass 

 or tin nose-pieces. 



Three or four hundred horsemen must have taken 

 part in the ceremony, but there were few footmen. 



